Youre flesh and blood: Scott Morrison opens up about his battle with ...
Scott Morrison on his anxiety: "You dread the future and you can't get out of bed," he shared. "It can shut you down mentally and physically. It robs you of your joy and can damage relationships. I know this from personal experience."
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Amid the whirlwind of political debates, press conferences, and crisis management, it's easy to forget that behind the podium stands a person, with their own struggles and vulnerabilities. Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's recent revelation about his battle with anxiety is now highlighting the human side of political leadership.
During his tenure in office, Morrison navigated through turbulent times, grappling with crises like Covid-19 pandemic, devastating bushfires, and strained international relations with China. Behind the scenes, he was waging another battle - a silent struggle with anxiety that threatened to overwhelm him.
In a candid interview with The Australian, Morrison described his anxiety as "debilitating and agonising." He confessed, "I think it just built up." "You're flesh and blood, and so it would start to impact you," he reflected.
Recognising the gravity of his condition, Morrison sought help from a doctor in Canberra, who prescribed medication to alleviate his symptoms.
In his new book, "Plans for Your Good: A Prime Minister's Testimony of God's Faithfulness," Morrison reflected on this, writing, "My doctor was amazed I had lasted as long as I had before seeking help. Without this help, serious depression would have manifested."
"You dread the future and you can't get out of bed," he shared. "It can shut you down mentally and physically. It robs you of your joy and can damage relationships. I know this from personal experience."
In sharing his story, Morrison, who suffered from "unrelenting and callous brutality of politics" is now hoping to destigmatise mental illness, particularly within the political sphere.
Morrison backed this up by highlighting his achievements during this period, including securing the AUKUS defence pact with the US and UK. "Because I sought help I was fully functional. [It is] important that people understand that this doesn't have to hold you back. I went on to land Aukus in the midst of this," he noted.
Morrison's openness about his mental health journey now added him to a growing list of world leaders who have shared similar struggles - from New Zealand's former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's battles with burnout to former US lawmaker Patrick Kennedy publicly acknowledging his struggles with substance use and bipolar disorder in 2006.
(With inputs from agencies)
Heena Sharma is a digital journalist who writes mostly on current geopolitical developments. @HeenaSharma0819
